Search for  
 
 
top

Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position.

Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data.

Blunting Effect
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Luster
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Strength Properties
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Size

Scientific Name
Xanthophyllum papuanum

Trade Name
New Guinea Boxwood

Family Name
Xanthophyllaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
New Guinea Boxwood

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Australia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands

Common Uses
Bedroom suites, Brush backs & handles, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Construction, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Flooring, Furniture , Handles, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Shafts/Handles, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Trimming, Veneer, Wainscotting

Environmental Profile
Status has not been officially assessed


Distribution Overview
The species occurs in Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands, and Australia.

Heartwood Color
Purple
Red
Brown
Yellowish brown
Pale brown


Sapwood Color
White
Pink
Yellow
Pale straw


Grain
Even
Interlocked
Straight

Straight
Interlocked


Texture
Coarse
Medium
Medium
Coarse


Luster
Medium


Natural Durability
Very durable
Susceptible to termite attack
Susceptible to pinhole borer
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Susceptible to attack by fungi and termites


Odor
No specific smell or taste


Toxicity
Associated with dermatitis

Drying Defects
Distortion
Checking


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Radial and tangential shrinkage from 4-7%
Radial and tangential shrinkage from 1-2%
Easy

Prone to surface-check

Tree Size
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Tree height is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm


Comments
Vessels often contain white deposits

Blunting Effect
Abrasive deposits are reported to dull tool edges rapidly and excessively

Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Difficult to saw

Dull saws tend to cause dust to pack on tools. Tungsten-tipped cutters are recommended

Gluing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Growth rings fairly distinct


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results


Planing
Requires sharp cutting edges
Planes to a smooth surface
Difficult to plane

Causes severe and rapid blunting effect on cutting edges. Smooth surfaces can be achieved if cutters are kept very sharp.

Resistance to Impregnation
Sapwood is permeable
Sapwood is permeable
Heartwood is resistant


Screwing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results


Painting
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results


Polishing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Cut surfaces are usually smooth and glossy


Strength Properties
Resists denting and marring
High in density
Hardness = medium
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high
Bending strength (MOR) = high


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1068217346psi
Density46lbs/ft3
Hardness1637lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength54298820psi
Shearing Strength2136psi
Static Bending712511074psi
Stiffness187623231000 psi
Toughness145inch-lbs
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength7511219kg/cm2
Density737kg/m3
Hardness742kg
Maximum Crushing Strength381620kg/cm2
Shearing Strength150kg/cm2
Static Bending500778kg/cm2
Stiffness1311631000 kg/cm2

References
Bolza, E. and N.H. Kloot. 1966. The Mechanical Properties of 81 New Guinea Timbers. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper No. 41, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organization, Melbourne, Australia.

Eddowes, P.J. 1977. Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea - Their Properties and Uses. Forest Products Research Center, Office of Forests, Department of Primary Industry, Papua New Guinea.

Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1